Two Airlink Embraer jets performed a spectacular flypast over Cape Town’s DHL Stadium on Saturday, 29 August, ahead of the Springboks–All Blacks rugby Test. Videos (see below) of the flypast quickly went viral, with the aircraft appearing to pass only metres above the stadium roof. While many South African rugby fans praised the spectacle, others questioned whether the manoeuvre was too close for comfort.
According to Flightradar24 analysis, the lead Embraer E195 was at around 205–210 feet above mean sea level. With the stadium roof at approximately 164 feet, the estimated clearance was around 41–46 feet (12–14 metres).
Airlink said the flypast was carefully planned and rehearsed, and had been approved by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) and Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS). The airline said both aircraft operated within their approved altitude and speed parameters, with each aircraft crewed by three senior captains.
The reaction has nevertheless been mixed, particularly among international aviation enthusiasts, with some describing the flypast as spectacular and others calling it unnecessarily risky.
The flypast also revived a long-standing South African sporting tradition, recalling the famous South African Airways Boeing 747 flypast at the 1995 Rugby World Cup final.
While the videos certainly make the aircraft look dangerously close to the stadium, there is currently no indication that the aircraft deviated from the approved procedure.
Planning. Precision. Performance. ????
Spectacular scenes of Airlink’s double Embraer flyover at the DHL Stadium.
Forget the two Airlink jets for a moment, bro just got a jealous view of a lifetime! pic.twitter.com/7P03rYWgzp
— Turbine Traveller (@Turbinetraveler) August 30, 2026
Airlink is Proud Official Sponsor of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, presented by Castle Double Malt ?#Airlink #FlyAirlink #FlyTheLink #Skybucks #RugbysGreatestRivalry pic.twitter.com/3tPNepftLS
— Airlink (@Fly_Airlink) August 29, 2026
Unbelievable, South Africa! I know it’s real, but it’s still tough to wrap my head around just how low that was.
Two Embraer E195s flew dangerously low over DHL Stadium in Cape Town—just a few feet above the ground. pic.twitter.com/oweo4EY1OL
— Turbine Traveller (@Turbinetraveler) August 29, 2026